Hot Topics:

Third time could be charm for Ayer used-car dealer

By Hattie Bernstein, Staff Writer

Updated:
06/19/2013 06:39:54 AM EDT

AYER -- Sean Partridge wants to increase the inventory in his used-car sales lot at 42 Littleton Road. On Tuesday he went before selectmen to answer questions about his application to amend his Class 2 license.

What he wants, told officials and a handful of others attending the public hearing, is to increase his current inventory of vehicles from six to 50.

Instead of getting an answer, Partridge was invited back July 2 to get an answer after the town's fire chief inspects the area with the building inspector.

Partridge, who was making his second visit to the board, said he owns an acre of land and keeps his vehicles on a quarter acre. He is seeking approval to expand his lot on three-quarters of an acre, an area he said could hold 120 vehicles.

The town's building inspector considered the application, officials said, and had no reservations about approving it. But Fire Chief Robert J. Pedrazzi told the applicant and the board that he wants to tour the area "to make sure are no encumbrances in the back of the building."

"I'd like to take a look with the building inspector," Pedrazzi said. "It's not that we've had issues with you, but in the past, we have with used-car lots. We want something laid out in case there's an issue. It looks like what you have is OK, but we want to look."

Selectman James Fay endorsed voting on the application at the July 2 board meeting.

"The building inspector has already indicated he has no issues," Fay added.

Advertisement

Asked for his input, Police Chief William Murray said he would "go with the fire chief."

"This is the first I've heard about this," Murray told the selectmen.

Before the public hearing concluded, Selectmen Chairman Pauline Conley asked the applicant if he understood the board's decision to wait until July 2 to give him an answer. When she asked if any one who lives near the business was in the audience, there was silence.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sun. So keep it civil.